Labor refuses to drop pursuit of ‘grassgate’ minister

Labor is ramping up its attacks on cabinet minister Angus Taylor over his family’s connections to the clearing of endangered grasslands.

The opposition has been targeting Mr Taylor over allegations he tried to use his position to water down environmental protections for the native grasslands, which a company he part-owns cleared on a NSW farm.

Labor failed to set up a Senate inquiry into the Minister’s dealings by a single vote on Monday, after One Nation sided with the government to block the investigation.

However, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is not letting the matter rest.

“He has real questions to answer and we’ll continue to pursue these issues,” Mr Albanese said in Canberra on Tuesday.

“This is a very serious abuse of power by a minister in a government that abuses power all the time.”